Article 13 Russian constitution We are committed to political pluralism. Article 29 guarantees freedom of speech. It is brave citizens who claim those rights.
Russia will hold presidential elections this weekend, and the outcome is clear. President Vladimir Putin will win easily. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the spirit of democracy was as good as dead. The flame is kept alive by a courageous few.
Thousands of people attended Alexei Navalny’s funeral in Moscow. Navalny is a jailed opposition leader who is generally believed to have been killed on the orders of the Kremlin. There were chants calling for a “Russia without Putin.” It’s a high-risk activity. Open opposition to the regime is punishable by fines and imprisonment. OVD informationHuman rights groups have cataloged hundreds of detentions in dozens of cities following vigils in memory of Navalny.
It was the largest protest movement since the invasion of Ukraine, but for a country with a population of 144 million, the numbers are not that large. What most Russians think about the president and his war is unclear. Opinion polls show a majority in favor of both, but it is difficult to conduct accurate surveys in an environment where deviation from the official line is legally prohibited.
Independent analysts say the situation is delicate, with a spectrum of emotions that accompanies ideological pro-Kremlin beliefs, ranging from mild patriotic sympathy for the military, followed by apathy, low levels of dissatisfaction, severe resignation, and despair. , and cast a shadow over a core of committed dissidents. .
Putin’s position has been secured through violence, creating a sense of distrust that any alternative is viable. He accomplishes this by eliminating his rivals, making Russia a target of foreign dismantling plans, and promoting a cult of personality that sees himself as the only person who can unite Russia. This speaks to the people’s deep-seated fears that his homeland is falling into chaos. Similar things have happened recently, so democracy is considered a risk not worth taking, especially for older generations.
This week’s election was not designed to fool anyone into thinking Russians have a choice. It is a ceremonial affirmation of the incumbent power and an imitation of democracy that demoralizes those who dream of peaceful regime change. but, disguised ballot paper Give the opposition an opportunity to rally. Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of a slain dissident, called on anti-Putin voters to gather at polling stations at noon on Sunday, even if they had no intention of voting. The key is visualization. Authorities have little ability to prohibit such gatherings if they are for election purposes.
These are completely symbolic gestures, but that does not mean they are in vain. Russians who dare to speak out for democracy, and those who quietly yearn for an end to Mr. Putin, need to be reminded that they are not alone. People outside Russia also have a role to play in spreading voices of courage and hope. Imprisoned opposition figures Ilya Yashin and Vladimir Kara-Murza are also at risk of suffering the same fate as Navalny. The more salient their plight, the harder it will be for Mr. Putin to pretend that his ideas are the only vision for Russian politics.
Sadly, as this week’s elections demonstrate, the freedoms promised in Russia’s constitution feel far away today. But it will also show that the spirit of opposition cannot be extinguished.
